Signments



(NoModel.) l

B. R. DAVENPORT.

CORSET PASTENBR. No. 367.373. Patented Aug. 2. 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

BENJAMIN R. DAVENPORT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE CALUMETFASTENER COMPANY, OF SAME FLACE.

coRseT-FAsTENER.

SPECIFICATION `forming' pari; of Letters Patent No. 367,373, dated August 2, 1887.

Application tiled May 12, 1887. Serial No. 237,992. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN R. DAVEN- PORT, a citizen of theV United States, residing at Chicago, in the count-y of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corset Fasteners, of Which the following is a full and complete description, sufficient to enable those skilled in the artto which it appertains to made and use the same.

The object of my invention is to obtain a corset-fastener which will not'readily become unfastened accidentally, as by the motion of the body of the person wearing the corset to which it is attached, and at the same time tov secure a corset-fastener which will be much more easily closed or fastened when putting on the corset than are the several corset-fasteners now and heretofore in use.

I have illustrated my invention by the drawings accompanying this specification, and forming a part hereof, in-which- Figure l is a plan view of the corset springs ordinarily used, and to which fasteners are attached, and having secured thereon my improved corset-fasteners. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the catch or catches forming a part of my invention'. spring with the lock in which the catch or catches fasten secured thereto.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several Views.

A B are corset-springs.

C D E are locks of slightly-varying form, into which the catches interlock.

F F F are catches interlocking with locks C D E. Catches F F are riveted or otherwise securely fastened to corset-spring A, and locks C D E are secured to corset-spring B in like manner, or form a part thereof by being pressed up therefrom, as hereinafter described.

The different locks CID E' present substantially the same form,when completed, for the reception of catch F, the only material difference therein being the manner in which they are constructed and attached to the said corset-spring. Lock lettered Cconsists of a piece of .Wire slightly iiattened on the part coming in contact with catch F and suitably bent, as illustrated, and then driven in holes in corset- Fig. 3 is an elevation of a corsetspring B and there riveted. Lock D is formed up from a piece of sheet metal and riveted to corset-spring B. Lock E is a portion of the corset-spring B, and is made by cutting or punching the part forming the lock from the body of the corset-spring, and forming it up by dies. i

I prefer, generally, the form of lock lettered E, formed-up from thebody ofthe corsetspringitself, but if greater strength is desired in any particular case than would result if it were constructed in this manner, or if it be. required to attach my invention to a corset-spring already tempered,77 and which will not therefore allow of the said lock being punched andformed up therefrom, then either the forni C or D may be used.

It will be noticed that catch F F is of peculiar shape, being so constructed that the fasteners may not become accidentally loosened or unfastened by the motion of the body in wearing the corset to which they are attached. i fis a bend in the sheet metal forming the catch, and the back of said metal is nearly in the saine plane, after the making of this bend f, as is the face of it before the making thereof, the purpose of this bend being to bring the portion ofthe catch forming the hook or head forward in the lock C D E, thus forcing said hook against said locks when the catch is closed and the corset fastened, corset-springs A B being nearly in the same plane against the body, and preventing the corset becoming unfastened.

It is not necessary that catch F should be constructed of very flexible material, as the twist required. in the corset-spring A,when it is desired to unfasten the corset, will ordinarilyfnrnish all the spring or flexibility desired. v

ff f are bends forming the head of the catch.

The length of the part of the catch lettered f is immaterial; and I have therefore illustrated said catch F in Fig. 2 with this part F as of three different lengths, and it may be cut off at bend f, if desired. The varying lengths shown giving different degrees of strength to the catch, one of said forms may be more suitable on certain corsets than the other of said forms; and, further7 there being a different strain ou the different catches used in any one corset, it may be considered preferable to attach different Vcatches to different places on said spring A.

The operation of my improved corset-fastener is as follows: The downward pressure of head formed by bends fff slightly twists the corsetspring A to which it is attached, and.

said head may be easily pressed into lock C D E. Upon removingthe pressure therefrom the said head is forced forward by the movement or twist of the corset-spring,` A. But little spring is required in the catch itself because of this peculiar twisting or torsional strain to which the corset-spring is subjected when the corset in which it is placed is put on the body. The angle formed by bendfin front being less than a right angle, it forms a kind of hook requiringa forward movemcntof the catch in the lock at the same moment that the head of the catch is pressed backward to unfasten it from said lock; and hence, so long as a direct tension or pull is maintained upon the said catch by the strain put upon the corset-springs in wearing the same, the said bend f is not loosened or freed from the lock by any sudden movement of the body either in bending or turning. Such tension or pull as lis given the springs of the corset in Wearing the same also tends to make them lie in the same plane, and bendf, heretofore described, in the catch holds or forces the head of said catch forward in a locked position.

Having thus described myinvention and its manner of operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a corset-spring provided with catches formed of sheet metal, having bend ffff therein, with the opposite corset-spring provided with retaining-loops for said catches, all substantially as described7 and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a corset-spring provided With catches formed of sheet metal, having bend fff t.herein,with the opposite corset-spring provided with retaining-loops for said catches, all substantially as described, and for thepurpose set forth.

BENJAMIN R. DAVENPORT.

'Witnessesz CHARLBs T. BROWN, FLORA L. BROWN. 

